More News. . .

Some of you may have heard about Black & Decker being bought by Stanley Tools? It is a truth. Luckily it appears that we would still have a job here, but we are even more blessed than that! There was a fabulous opportunity that came up - exactly what he was looking for - in LA as controller of a company B&D is purchasing. He is really excited about it. So the other news? Oh, yeah, we're moving to the LA area sometime this spring or summer. That's the hard part...waiting patiently until the ball starts rolling or until I get to start juggling them. For now, we are waiting as he prepares to go out of town; only one week this month, but then we aren't so sure when he will be in town.

So I get to leave B'more? There are days that I am excited about it and others, like when it snows and freezes up the reservior and coats the trees in a dusting of white diamonds and the sky is so clear and blue that I have those pangs of regret. I will miss the snow, LR Reservoir, my new toilet, FALL - definitely miss fall here, and the people. Having my husband home for lunch most days of the week - stopping in to take him out. That I will miss. I might miss Jar's orchestra teachers at school and the program they run so well. I don't think I took the time to take stock in what I would miss as I contemplated leaving Houston - maybe I did, hmmm.

LA has lots to offer - nice weather, earthquakes, fire, hail, mudslides, summer all the time, smog, pollen all year round, BIG houses if you live far enough out, real football, smaller area wards and chiefly - closer to home and only one time zone away! I didn't even mention Disneyland - I'm a DW girl.

So we are working on the house when we can, trying not to let the stress boil over, and figuring out just what else we want to do before we fly away for good.

• Ft. McHenry
• one more NYC trip (with or without the kids???)
• Assateague or Chincoteague island
• rest of the Smithsonian
• beach week - outer banks, SC?
• Palmyra & Kirtland (maybe on the way?)
• Gettysburgh & Antietam
• Monticello
• DisneyWorld - do I even ask?
  

Do I try to throw in a genealogy trip or two? Probably don't have the time.

What do you miss? What would you most want to do back here?